Flash removes



H. C. RIPPEL FLASH REMOVER July 6,1937.

v 4 Sheets-Sheet l Original Filed March 22, 1955 nventor r HERBHerc-R/PPH Br i fis' Cfol'negs July 6, 1.937. H Q RIPPEL Re. 20,439

v FLASH REMOV'ER original Filed March 22, 1955 4 sheets-sheet 2 IhwentorHEJEEET C- )PIPPEL (ttornegs July 6, 1937.

H. C. RIPPEL FLASH REMOVER Original Filed March '22, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet3 muenfor H. c. 'RIPPl-:L

lFLASH REMOVER July` 6, 1931.

4 Sheets-sheet 4 original Filed Marlon 22, 1935 (Ittornegs lReami-luiys, 1937- n Re. 26,439

`PAT'lez-NT oFFicr-:

' msn nanom- Herbert C. Riniiel. Yllnlltcwn, Ohio, amig-nor to RepublicSteel. Corporation, Youngstown, Ohio, a corporation oi New Jersey(lriginal No. 2,025,421, dated December 24, 1935, Serial No. 12,471,March 22, 1935. Application for reissue February 17, 1937, Serial No.126,227

. 26 Claim.

'I'his invention relates broadly to the manufacture of longitudinallywelded tubular vmetal articles such as steel tube or pipe, and is moreparticularly concerned with apparatusV for `removing hot plasticwelding. flash or burr metal which is formed welding..

In the manufacture of metal tube or pipe to which this inventionparticularly relates, the flat metal `is formed into a tubular blankwith longitudinally abutting edges which are welded together by theelectric resistance butt weld method. 4During welding, longitudinalridges of metal, commonly known as flash or burr metal, are formed onthe welded seam, usually on both the inside and outside of the article.For many uses it is desirable, and for other uses it is essential, thatthe inside and/or outside of the tube should have smooth interior and/orexterior surfaces and should be free metal'.

f Heretofore, this ash metal has often been removed when cold. Thismethod of removal usually yrequires transportation of the tube from theextra operation, and the use of additional equipment and power to removethe cold metal. v

Attempts have been made to remove the flash metal while in a hot plasticstate, but several difculties have been encountered, among which wasthatof preventing removal of too much or not enough flash metal, that ofpreventing clogging of the cutter with severed plastic metal, and thatof disposing of the severed metal so as not to interfere with planishingof the seam immediately i like parts have been designated by likereferencev after removal of the flash metal.

f The present invention avoids the disadvantages of prior devices andpossesses many new advantages. It makes possible the severing of theiin, burr or iiash metal, while hot and plastic, and,

passage of the severed metal away from the cut--l ting tool withoutclogging or adhering to the latter. It also makes possible separate orsimultaneous removal of the flash metal from the insideand outside ofthe tubular article. It also makes possible the planishing of the seammetal immediately after the severing of the flash metal and while theseam metal is still highly heated, thus eliminating tool marks andirregularities, refining the grains, and producing a smooth surface overthe seam metal. l

Apparatus embodying and capable of practicingV this invention may bedisposed closelyY adjacent to the point of welding, .will automaticallyat the welded seam duringfrom projecting flash maintain its adjustmentwith respect to the pipe or tube when irregularities in the latter areencountered thus avoiding removal of too much or too little metal, willpossess long cutting tool life Awith longtime use before resharpening isrequired, and will permit quick removal and replacemen of the cuttingtools.

The foregoing, and other advantages of my inv vention and the inventionitself will become more apparent from the following description of someembodiments thereof, taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings.

In the drawings,

Figure 1 is a top plan view of an improved inside ilash removing deviceembodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a section taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1, showing the deviceoperatively disposed within a length of tube; y l A Fig. 3 is a verticalsection taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 44 is a vertical section taken on line t-I of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the tool holding shoe or block used inconjunction with my ash Ar'emovingdevice;

Fig. 6 is a vertical section of an outside flash remover embodying myinvention, combined' with the inside ash` remover of Figs. l to5;

Fig. 7 is a plan view of a part of the apparatus of Fig. 6:

Figs. 8, 9, l0 and llare sectional views of the outside i'lash removertaken on the lines 8 8, y,9-9, iii-lli and iI-II respectively of Fig. 6,Figs. 10 and il being on an enlarged scale.

Throughout the drawings and specifications,

characters.

'I'he device shown in Figs. 1 to 5, comprises a tool carryingl means orplug 5 having itsl end 6 attached to a rod 'I anchored at a point inadvance of the welding throat (not shown) 4in any well known manner. Theplug 5 is recessed, as at I, to receive a, tool holder or shoes, theextension i0 of recess 8 rproviding a space into which the 'shoe may bemoved when it is to be removed from the plug. Radial cylindricalrecesses Il and I8, having reduced openings I2 and I9 respectively, arefitted with cylindrical-'blocks il and I8 which rest .on reseilientmembers I3 and I1 respectively.- These vblocks support the shoe l.

These members I3 and I1 permit slight movement walls which diverge fromthe outer surface of the' shoe, this opening being enlarged as at 23. Acutting tool 24 is positioned in opening 22 as by a screw 26, and ismaintained at the desired cutting angle and position by a wedge 25 inthe enlargement 23 of the opening. 'I'he portion 21 of opening 22 servesas an opening thru which hot, severed flash metal may pass thru shoe 9,and communicates with a chamber 29 formed in plug 5. The surface 29 ,ofshoe 9 is curved, to conform generally to the inside surface of thetubular article A and is grooved from opening 22 to the forward beveledend to provide a recess 90 ,to straddle andguide the unsevered flash ofthe seam metal.

The chamber 25 has a discharge opening thru which severed flash metalmay pass. A cover-9i pivoted to pin 52 in plug 5 serves to close thatdischarge opening when the plug is in article A, for the latter keepsthe cover in closed position. The weight Aof the cover I and severedilash metal thereon is such as to cause the cover to swing about thepivot 92 when the article A has moved beyond the device. Such movementpermits the severed flash metal to fall out of or be removed from thechamber 25.

'I'he plug 5 is positioned within the article A by a plurality ofrollers 55, 55, 51 and 95 mounted on axles 54, 59, 49 and 4Irespectively and disposed in recesses in plug 5, so that ,only smallportions extend beyond the surface ofthe plug. 'I'hese rollers engagethe opposed inner surfaces of the article and position the plug thereinrelative to those walls.

'Ihe positioning of the cutting tool relative to the welded seam isaccomplished byv adjustment of the tool in the tool carrying means andthe use of members I5 and I1 of proper thickness. The tool will beautomatically maintained in such predetermined position, even when thearticle A is somewhat irregular, by the resilient members I3 and I1, andwill thus leavea predetermined amount of seam metal on the article, thatis, it will not remove either too much or not enough of the flash metal.The rollers 35, 91 and 39 are directly opposed to outsiderollers '42, 43and 44 which press the pipe against these inside rollers, so that theyexert a planishing action on the inner surface of the pipe A,particularly across the heated seam metal from which the flash portionhas been removed by the tool 24, thus smoothing' and polishing the metaland refining its grains.

In Figs. 6 to 1l inclusive, is illustrated another embodiment of myinvention, particularly adapted to remove hot plastic ilash'metal fromthe outside of a longitudinal seam weld of a tubular metal article, thisembodiment being combined, in Fig. 6, with the apparatus of Figs. 1 to5' v The outside flash-remover of Figs. 6 to 11 in clusive is describedas follows: The housing 55, which anchors the tool carrying means, isattached to a yoke 5I, which may be secured to a ilxed part of a weldingmachine, for example, to the stand holding rolls F, closely adjacent tothe discharge side of the welding electrodes E. The yoke includeshorizontally disposed parallel upper and lower arms 52 and 59respectively, and a vertical threaded post 54. The upper end of the post54 is reduced in diameter at 55 and is rotatably journaled in the arm 52with the shoulder of the post adjacent the threadedportionbearingagainst the inside of the upper arm. The lower end of thepost is rotatably journalled in the lower arm and is held therein by aclamping member 56 secured tothe yoke by the cap screws 51. The

t upper end o`f the post extends through the yoke arm 52 and is providedwith a squared end 59 having a transverse slot therethrough adapted toreceive a wedge 59 resting on the upper surface of the yoke arm.

The housing 59 has a threaded boss 59 in which the post 5.4 is threaded.The housing may thus be moved vertically by rotating the post .54.Lateral swinging movement of the housing is prevented when pin 5I is inposition in `an aperture vor slot in the end of the arm 52 and in recess52 of the housing. 'I'he pin 5I may be quickly removed to permit thehousing to be swung laterally. l i

4 The body of the housing has an irregular recess 54, as best shown inFig. 6, in which is disposed a tool holder, about to be described. Apair of bearing or trunnion blocks 55 are mounted for reciprocation inopenings 51 inthe walls 55 and 85 of housing 55 and are urged toward oneen'd of the openings by helical springs 1I disposed in,l

cylindrical chambers 1l in the side walls, and

posed on the squared end 15 of the shaft 15. 'Ihe amount of rotation oi'the shaft is limited by a second lever 5I also integral with the boss 90but extending in the opposite direction (Fig. '1) and adapted to contactwith a stop 52 secured to die side of thehousing by a cap screw I4.Although but one weight 11 is shown, two such weights may be provided,one being placed -in each end of the Ishaft 15.-

The mid-portion of the shaft 15 is square and carries a tool holder orshoe 55 having a heel portion. The shoe is suiliciently wide to bridgethe space between the walls 55 and 55 but has clearance which permitsfree pivotal and limited lateral movement therebetween. The articleengaging surfaces of the shoe and heel are `curved transversely andcontoured as best shown in Figs. 'I to 9 inclusive, to conform to theshape of the article. A groove 55 extends longitudinally of the shoefrom end'to end and is -of sufllcient depth andwidth to span Athe flashmetall projecting from the seam. The heel portion of the shoe is curvedlongitudinally on the are of a circleand the surface is knurled orroughened for a purpose later to be described.

An opening through the tool holder 55 is :formed by diverging wallsopening toward the top of the shoe. A guideway 59 in the rear wall ofthe openingililga 6 and 9), adjustably supports a cutting tool 55, whichtool is retained in the guideway by wedge 55 extending through atransverse keyway in the shoe. f

The lshoe `has a transverse, rearwardly opening slot 9i which permitsthe shoe to be slipped on -the shaft. The shoe may be locked thereonbyanangularkeepersecuredtotheshoeby a cap screw 95. y. f

The tool carrier is recessed to form a chamber 94 partly enclosed by thewalls 65 and 36, and by a curved lid orclosure member 99 pivoted to thetoe of the shoe at 96 and having an integral arm 91 extending across thebottom of the chamber.

'I'he end ofthe arm 91, is slotted at 91' to register' shoe contactswith the article therewill be a slight gap between the bearing blocks69v and ends of the guideways 6l opposite to the springs. Thisadjustment insures maintenance of the predetermined adjustment of thecutter relative to the article even when small irregularities arepresent in the tube.

`The already described inside ash remover shown in Figs. 1 to 5 is shownin Fig. 6 in assem bled position with respect to both the outside flashI remover and the welding means indicated by roller electrode E. It willbe noted that the rollers 36 and 31 are opposed respectively to rollersY42 .and 43, which are the same as rollers 42 and 43 of Fig. 2. It willfurther be noted that both the outside cutter 89 and the inside cutter-24 are positioned closely adjacent to the place, represented `byelectrode E where the seam welding takes place. The 'location of eachcutter with respect to the place of welding is dependent to some extenton the speed `of travel of the pipe or tube, but is within the spacetraveled by the pipe or tube while the flash metal is hot and plastic.

The operation f the above described apparatus is substantially asfollows:

After the devices have been adjusted. just as described, a tubulararticle, such as a pipe or tube, is welded as by the electric resistancebutt weld means indicated, burr or ash being formed on the inside andoutside of the pipe or tube article and these devices is produced.Preferably the welded articlev is moved axially past these devices. Theleading'end of the article contacts with the knurled heel oi shoe 85 androtatesthe shoe clockwise until the shoe engages the article as shown inFig. 6 on each side of the seam, with the outside flash metal runningthru the groove 96, and with the cutting tool 89 infthe path of travelof the hot plastic iiash metal. As the tube passes the shoe, the cuttingedge of the tool severs the hot plastic 'ilash metal from the seam anddirects the severed flash metal through the opening 8l in the toolholder and into the chamber 94. The planlshing'roll 42 smoothes out anyirregularities left by the ,tool and on the seam metal and works andrenes the grains. 'Ihe severed, hot flash metal accumulates and curls upin chamber 9,4. When the article has passed completely beyond the shoe,the weight /11 rotates the shoe counter clock-wise in the housing andcarries the toe portion away from the article, under control of rollers93 traveling in the guldeway 99. When the rollers reach'thestraightportion 99 lof the guideways, the direction of travel of therollers 98 is changed. This change moves the` lid into open position'and the arm 91 connected thereto kicks the ilash metal out of thechamber. Rotation of the shoe is stopped by the arm 8| engaging the stop82; the final position taken by the lid being best shown by the dottedlines in Fig. 6. 'I'he device is now in condition for repetition orthose operations on A any other article.

While the outside flash is being removed, as just described, the insideilash is also being removed. As the welded article with hot plasticfl'ashlmetal passes over the plug 5, its opposite walls are 'engaged bythe rollers and by the surface 29 of the shoe 9. The flash is guided bygroove '38 to the tool 24 which severs the flash and directs it thruopening 22. This severed metal is collected in chamber 28`from which itmay be removed after the pipe has passed' therebeyond by swinging cover3| on pin 32 and allowing the metal to fall out, or by pulling it out.The pianishing rolls 36 and 42 roll the seam and remove tool marks orirregularities in the seam metal surfaces.

When hot plastic metal is severed from both the outside andinside oi thewelded seam, as by the apparatus oi' Fig. 6, the rollers 42 and 43simultaneously planish both the outer and inner surfaces of the highlyheated weld metal from which the hot plastic ash metal has been removed,thereby smoothing the metal, eliminating tool marks and iregularities,polishing the metal and reining the grain.

Although I have shown the flash removers as operating simultaneously ona pipe, 'it will 'be understood that `either device may bev used in theabsence of the other device and that, with` slight obvious mechanicalchanges, the devices.

maybe used to sever flash from a seam disposed at other places than' inthe top part of a pipe or tube, as shown.

The operation ofthe inside flash remover of Figs.- 1 to 5, as abovedescribed, is substantially the same whether used with the outside'flash remover' or separately. In other words, when used separately, thedevice of Figs. 1 to 5 is assembled with a welder substantially as shownin Fig.v 6 and inside a tube welded by the Welder as shown in Figs. 2and tl. When Vthe leading end of the tube being welded` reaches thecove;` 3l it moves that cover to the position lshown in Fig. 2, if notalready there, then the still hot,

plastic iiash metal is progressively severed fromy be opened manually,and the collected flash may be removed from chamber 2li.,

It will beobvious, from the foregoing disclosure, that the hot, plasticsevered flash metal, .has no tendency to clog the cutting tools but onthe contrary ls directed thru vthe progressively enlarged opening justin front o! the tool so that clogging is prevented. Moreover, the toolis caused to follow the pipe and thereby to remove all but apredetermined amount of flash metal from the 'seam metal. The rollers inplug 5 roughly position the tool in the pipe while the blocks I4 andI8', washers I3 and I1 and shoe 9 produce andmaintain the fineadjustment of the tool and cause it to follow irregularities in the pipewhile preventing removal of too much or not enough flash metal. 'I'heshoe, tool and counterweight of the outside device, act to accomplish asimilarresult on the outside of the seam.

The tools of both devices are readily removed andreplaced and have longcutting life because the hot ilash metal is rapidly removed from contactwith them and does not cover and cool on them. f

Additional apparatus broadly embodying the present invention isdisclosed and specifically claimed in the patent to Lawrence H.Park, No.2,025,422 issued December 24 1935.

Having thus described my invention so that those skilled in the art mayunderstand the same, I have set forth what I desire to secure by LettersPatent in the claims.

I claim:

l. A device yfor removing welding tiaslimetal from a tubularmetalarticlecomprising a tool holder having an opening therethru donned by divergingwalls, a cutting tool adjacent to theopening, means for maintaining thetool in a predetermined position relative to a longitudinal welded seamo! an axially moving, substantially cylindrical. tubular metal articleto sever hot, plastic, welding ash metal from said article, and meansincluding an uninterrupted surface lof the tool for directing the hot,plastic, severed ilash metal thru said opening. f

' 2. A device for removing welding dash metal from a longitudinallywelded, tubular metal article comprising a tool holder having an open-jing therethru deilned by diverging walls and disposed in predeterminedposition relative to such an article, the tool holder having a groove tospan hot, plastic, flash metal on said article and to permit the holderto engage the article adjacent to the ilash metal, a cutter carried bythe tool holder for removing all but a predetermined amount of the hotplastic ilash metal from the article while the latter is insubstantially undeformed condition, said tool holder having an openingtherethru deilned by diverging walls, and means including anuninterrupted surface of the tool to pass the hot plastic metal severedby the tool thru said opening.

3. A device for removing Ywelding ilash'metal from the seam of alongitudinally welded, tubular metal article comprising'a tool holdershaped and positioned to engage such anarticle, while substantiallycylindrical,adiacenttov the. ilash metal. and having an openingtherethru denned by diverging walls, ya cutting tool positioned in said4opening to sever hot, plastic, welding flash metal from the article,and meansincluding an interrupted surface of the tool for the hot,plastic severed flash metal thru said opening. l4. A ldevice forremoving welding nash metal from the seam of a longitudinally welded,tubular metal article comprising a tool holder shaped land positioned toengage such an article, while substantiallyv cylindrical, adjacent tothe ilash metal and having'anv opening therethru deilned by divergingwalls. a cutting tool positioned. in said opening to sever hot, plastic,welding tlash metal from the article, means yincluding an uninmeanshavinaan opening therethru into said chamber and denned bydivergingwalls. a cutting tool positioned in said opening to sever longltudinallyextending hot,`plastic, welding flash metal from such an article, andmeans to ldirect such metal thru said opening into said chamber, thechamber having a discharge opening thru which collected severed dashmetal may pass.

from a longitudinally welded tubular metal article, lcomprising toolcarrying means havingv a ash collecting chamber, a tool holder in saidmeansl having an opening therethru into said chamber and denned bydiverging walls, a cutting tool positioned in said opening to severlongitudinally. extending. hot, plastic, welding ash metal from such anarticle, means to direct such metal thru said opening into said chamber,the

6. .A device for removing welding flash metal chamber having a dischargeopening thru which severed collected ilash metal may pass, and a movableclosure for said opening.

'7. A device for removing welding dash metal from a longitudinallywelded tubular metal article, comprising tool carrying means having aash collecting chamber, a tool holder in said means having an openingtherethru into said chamber and dened by diverging walls, a cutting toolpositioned in said, opening to sever longitudinalLv extending hot,plastic, welding ash metal from such anv article, means to direct suchvcarried by said plug in one wall of the chamber to sever longitudinallyextending hot, plastic, welding ash metal from the weld of such anarticle and direct the severedplastic metal into said chamber, thechamber having a discharge opening for the severed metal collected'therein, and meansl engageable with the article to close said dischargeopening. g

9. A device for removing, hot welding flash metal from a longitudinallywelded, tubular metal article comprising a tool carrier having a chamberand disposed to engage the outside oi.' such an article adjacent to theflash metal thereon,l a toolin said carrier positioned to severlongitudinally .extending hot, plastic, ash metal from said article anddirect it into said chamber'l said carrier including means actuated bythe article for electing severed flash metal i'roml saidv cham- 10. Adevice for removing welding ilash'metal from a longitudinally welded.tubular, metal article, comprising a plug, means associated therewithfor positioning the plug in such an article. a cutter in the plugpositioned to sever longitudinal hot, plastic, welding ash from the saidarticle, and means including opposed rollers, one of which is in theplug and adjacent to the cutter for planishing the portion of thearticle from ilash metal has been severed of such an a'rticle, a cuttingtool in said means I disposed in a predetermined position relative tolongitudinally extending welding flash metal on the exterior of saidarticle. and means actuated by the exterior surface` of said article formaintaining the predetermined: position of the cutting tool relative tothe article and' to its metal.

12. A device for removing welding flash metal from a longitudinallywelded tubular metal f and defined by divergent walls, a cutting toolholder comprising a shaft for supporting the tool positioned in saidopening to sever flash metal from the article, said severed metal beingdirected by the tool and the divergent walls of the tool holder intothechamber, a discharge opening from said chamberv and a closure forsaid opening, said closure adapted to be maintained closed during asevering operation by the metal article and adapted after the severingoperationto be opened to discharge the severed metal. y

13. A device for removing welding flash metal "from a longitudinallywelded tubular' metal arsupported by the plug and adapted to engage theinside surface of the article for positioning the plug in the article, atool holder resiliently supported in the plug over said chamber andhaving an opening therethrough into said chamber and defined bydivergent walls, a longitudinal groove in the surface of the tool holderto permit the tool holder to engage the tubular article adjacent theflash metal, a cutting tool positioned in said opening to sever ashmetal from the article, said severed metal being directed by the tooland the divergent walls of the tool holder into the chamber, a dischargeopening from said chamber and a. closure for said opening, said closureadapted to be maintained closed during a severing operation by the metalarticle and adapted after the severing operation to be opened todischarge the severed metal from the chamber.

i4. A device for removing flash metal from av longitudinally weldedtubular metal article, comprising a housing pivotally supported adjacentthe article, a tool holder resiliently and pivotally supported by thehousing adjacent the ilash metal and having an opening therethroughdefined by divergent walls, a cutting tool positioned in said openingfor severing the flashmetal from the article, said tool holder and saidhousing providing a chamber for receiving the severed flash metal, aclosure for the chamber opened by pivotal movement `of said tool holderto permit the ash to be ejected and having a kick-out member extendingacross the bottom ofthe chamber adapted to eject they material from thechamber upon opening of the closure; means to pivot the tool holder, alever connected to the shaft and means connected to the lever to movethesame.

v15. A device for removing flash `metal from -a longitudinally weldedtubular metal article, comprising a housing pivotally supported adjacentto the article, a tool holder resiliently and pivotally supported by thehousing adjacent the ash metal and' comprising a shoe having alongitudinali! 'extending surface adapted to engage the surface of thearticle and an -arcuate friction surface for engagement with thearticle, said longitudinally extending portion having an openingtherethrough defined by divergent walls, a cutting tool positioned insaid opening for severing the flash metal from the article, said toolholder and said housing providing a chamber for receiving the severedflash metal, a closure for the chamber adapted to be opened by pivotalmovement of said tool holder to permit the flash to be ejected and acasoM ticle,l 'comprising a plug having a chamber, rotatable memberssupported by thelplug Aand having a kick-out member extending across thebottom of the chamber adapted to eject the material from the chamberupon opening of the closure, said shoe adapted to be pivoted to a flashsevering position by engagement of the article with ,the arcuatefriction surface, means to pivot the tool holder to a non-cuttingposition comprising'a shaft for supporting the tool holder, a leverconnected to theshaft and means connected to the lever to move the same.

16. The combination with electrical welding means for progressivelyforming aweld extending longitudinally of a tubular metal article, ofmeans disposed within the article and closely adjacent to said weldingmeans for severing iiash metal from said weld inside of the article. 17.'I'he combination. with electrical welding means, including partsengaging the outside of a tubular metal article,for progressivelyforming a weld extending longitudinally of such article, ofmeans-disposed within the article and closely adjacent to said Weldingmeans for severing flash metal from said weld inside of the articlewhile said metal is still hot ,and plastic from the welding operation.,

18. The combination with electrical welding means, including rotaryelectrodes, for forming a weld extending longitudinally of a tubularmetal article, of means disposed within the article and closely adjacentto said electrodes for severing s iiash metal from said weld inside ofthe article whlesaid metal-is still hot and plastic from the weldingoperation.

19. The combination with electrical means for progressively forming aweld extending longitudinally ofa tubular metal article, of meansdisposed within the article and closely adjacent to said welding meansfor progressively severing ash metal from said Weld inside of thearticle, and means disposed utside of the article and closely adjacentto said welding means for procent to said welding means for severing hotplastic flash metal from said weld outside of the article, each of saidiiash removing means being disposed closely adjacent to said weldingmeans, and means disposed on the inside and outside of the articleclosely adjacent to the said ash severing means for simultaneouslyplanishing the inner and outer surfaces of the still highly heated weldmetal immediately after said iiash metal has been removed.

2i. The combination with electrical means for progressively formingfaweld extending longitudinally of a'tubular metal article, of meansengageable.A with the article and disposed closely yadjacent to theelectrical means for severing hot plastic flash weld metal from the saidarticle, and means operatively associated with said flash severing meansfor collecting the flashas it is severed from said weld.

` 22. The combination with electrical means for progressively forming aweld extending longitudinaliy of a tubular metal article. oi' meansdisposed respectively inside of and outside o! said article' and closelyadjacent to said electrical means ior severing ilash metal from saidweld,

5 while still hot and plastic from the welding operation, and meansengaging the inner and outer surfaces of the weld immediately alter theseverance of said flash i'or planishing said surfaces. 23. Thecombination with electric welding lo means for progressively -forming aweld extending longitudinally oi a tubular metal article, oi cuttingmeans disposed within the article and closely adjacent to said weldingmeans for severing ilash metal from the weld inside of the ar- 15 ticle,and means on either side of said cutting means for maintaining saidcutting means in predetermined position relative to the article.

. 24. The` combination with electric welding means for progressivelyforming al weld .extend- 20 ing longitudinally of a tubularmetalarticle, 0f means-including a cutter. disposed within the articleand closely adjacent to said welding means for severing hot. plasticiiash metal from the weld rinside of vthe article. and punishing meansfor working the-weld metal immediately after removal ot metal therefromby said cutter means. a Y

25. The combinationl with electric welding means for progressivelyforming a weld extending longitudinally o! a tubular metal article, ofmeans. including a cutter. disposed Vwithin the article and closelyadjacent to said welding means for severing hot, plastic ash metal fromthe weld inside of the article, and means operatively associated withsaid cutter for collecting ash metal severed from the article by saidcutter.

` 26. The combination with electric welding means for progressivelyforming a weld extending longitudinally of a tubular metal article, ofmeans disposed within the article closely radjacent to said weldingmeans and including a. cutter i'or severing ilash metal from the weldinside of the article and supporting means for maintaining the cutter inpredetermined position with respect to the article.

e T C. RIPPEL.

